Verbs_and_Verb_Phrases_Middle_Construction.pptx

verb and verb phrases

1. Verbs and Verb Phrases: Middle Construction An overview of middle constructions in English grammar

2. - Middle construction is distinct from active and passive voice. - Often describes habitual or generic actions. - Requires adverbs like 'well', 'quickly', 'impressively'. - Typically uses the simple present tense.

3. 1. This sweater washes well. 2. Her latest novel reads well. 3. My children photograph well. These examples focus on inherent qualities of the subject.

4. - Middle clauses use active verbs without an auxiliary verb. - Passive clauses require auxiliaries like 'be' or 'get'. - Middle subjects control the action (e.g., 'This sweater washes well').

5. - Middles can describe single events, not just habitual actions. - Examples: - These cars sold very quickly last week. - The course is jumping well.

6. - Subjects in middle clauses are often 'neutral'. - They are neither agents nor patients but still control the action. - Example: 'The wool knitted up easily.'

7. - Common in 18th-century literature (e.g., Jane Austen). - Found in advertisements, showcasing product qualities (e.g., 'It won’t crush').

8. - Some verbs (e.g., 'establish', 'correct') behave like middles. - Example: 'A modest colony of fur seals has established…'

9. - Middle constructions describe actions controlled by the subject’s qualities. - Distinct from passive voice. - Widely used in literature, advertising, and media.